Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham (THSH) are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Hawley as Director of Artistic Programming and Projects. He will take up his new position on 12 November 2012.

On the announcement of Richard’s appointment, Andrew Jowett OBE, Director of Town Hall and Symphony Hall, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Richard to this key role within THSH. He brings with him a range of experience which will enable us to build upon the tremendous work done by his predecessor Paul Keene and ensure that the programme of concerts and events staged at our two world class halls continues to place Birmingham at the forefront of music making and upholds our vision of connecting people to music. Richard will also be responsible for overseeing our Education and Community policy, an integral element of our future development.”

Richard Hawley said about the appointment: “I am thrilled to be joining Town Hall and Symphony Hall at this exciting time and I am very much looking forward to working with artists and audiences alike to further develop the vital contribution these two wonderful venues make to Birmingham’s cultural life.

Richard was born and educated in Brisbane, Australia, where he held a number of positions in the arts before moving to the UK. His first appointment in the UK was as Orchestra Manager for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, resident at Symphony Hall. Richard then went on to hold the position of Festival Director at the Lichfield Festival. He is a Fellow of the CLORE Leadership Programme and is a resident of Birmingham.

He is currently Director of Arts Administration (Maternity cover) at London’s Southbank Centre.